The first day of school is always a little tense for students; as kids get older this can get worse. It seems cliques start in Kindergarten, but they get worse as the years go on. This is a first day of school exercise that I like because it shows students that we all have something in common.
I would hand out a mini-questionaire to the students with the following questions:
1. What is your favorite color? a. Blue b. Green c. Red d. Yellow
2. What is your favorite food? a. Pizza b. Hot dog c. Fruits and Veggies d. Taco
3. What is your favorite season? a. Summer b. Winter c. Fall d. Spring
4. What is your favorite subject? a. English/Literature b. Math c. Science d. History
You can add as many questions as you want and they can be about anything. I tried to chose questions that were basic and non gender specific. Have 4 posters prepared with each of the sets of answers on them. Ex. poster 1 will include all 4 of the a answers on it, and so on. After students have answered the questions ask them to look at their answer to #1 and then stand under the poster with that answer on it. Then ask the students to look around at the rest of the students in their group. Ask them to think about whether or not there was anyone in their group that they were suprised to have something in common with. Repeat this with all 4 question. When you are finished you can ask students to reflect on the other students with which they shared common interests. Then ask them if they understand what the exercise was about. Help them come to the understanding that we all have things in common and we should respect each others individuality or differences.
The first day of school is always a little tense for students; as kids get older this can get worse. It seems cliques start in Kindergarten, but they get worse as the years go on. This is a first day of school exercise that I like because it shows students that we all have something in common.
I would hand out a mini-questionaire to the students with the following questions:
1. What is your favorite color?
a. Blue
b. Green
c. Red
d. Yellow
2. What is your favorite food?
a. Pizza
b. Hot dog
c. Fruits and Veggies
d. Taco
3. What is your favorite season?
a. Summer
b. Winter
c. Fall
d. Spring
4. What is your favorite subject?
a. English/Literature
b. Math
c. Science
d. History
You can add as many questions as you want and they can be about anything. I tried to chose questions that were basic and non gender specific.
Have 4 posters prepared with each of the sets of answers on them. Ex. poster 1 will include all 4 of the a answers on it, and so on.
After students have answered the questions ask them to look at their answer to #1 and then stand under the poster with that answer on it. Then ask the students to look around at the rest of the students in their group. Ask them to think about whether or not there was anyone in their group that they were suprised to have something in common with. Repeat this with all 4 question. When you are finished you can ask students to reflect on the other students with which they shared common interests. Then ask them if they understand what the exercise was about. Help them come to the understanding that we all have things in common and we should respect each others individuality or differences.